Interface apparatus and container transporting system with the apparatus

Abstract

Provided are an interface apparatus for resolving congestion through a non-stop interface between a transporting device and a logistics automation storage device, and a container transporting system having the same. The interface apparatus includes a saddle for receiving a container from a container transporting device; and a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the container seated on the saddle to a container storage device, wherein the saddle receives the container while moving together with the container transporting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interface apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from a container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; 
 a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on saddles to a container storage device; and 
 a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, 
 wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and 
 wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each saddle moves at the same or similar speed as the container transporting device when receiving the respective container. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circulating path includes a first section overlapping a movement path of the container transporting device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each saddle receives the respective container from the container transporting device in the first section. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each saddle moves at the same speed as the container transporting device in the first section when the saddle enters the first section at the same time as the container transporting device. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each saddle moves faster than the container transporting device when the saddle enters the first section later than the container transporting device. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each saddle moves faster than the container transporting device until the saddle moves while maintaining the same line with the container transporting device in the first section. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the saddle is accelerated relative to the container transporting device, or the container transporting device is decelerated relative to the saddle. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each saddle moves slower than the container transporting device when the saddle enters the first section earlier than the container transporting device. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each saddle moves slower than the container transporting device until the saddle moves while maintaining the same line with the container transporting device in the first section. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each saddle is decelerated relative to the container transporting device, or the container transporting device is accelerated relative to the saddle. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each saddle is located on the same line as the container transporting device under the container transporting device when receiving the container. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circulating path comprises:
 a first section, in which the saddle receives the container from the container transporting device; 
 a second section, in which the saddle delivers the container to the container storage device; 
 a third section, in which the saddle transports the container; and 
 a fourth section, in which the saddle moves after delivering the container. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the saddle waits in the fourth section. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each saddle has a length corresponding to a section receiving the respective container in the circulating path. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each saddle moves when receiving the respective container. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device receives real time position information for the container transporting device and the plurality of saddles, and independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles based on the real time position information, or
 wherein the independent control of the plurality of saddles relative to one another includes temporarily stopping one of the plurality of saddles relative to another one of the plurality of saddles in one section of the circulating path. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the groove is surrounded by sidewalls on fewer than all sides of the groove. 
 
     
     
       19. An interface apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from a container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; 
 a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on saddles to a container storage device; and 
 a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, 
 wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and moves at the same or similar speed as the container transporting device when receiving the container, and 
 wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles. 
 
     
     
       20. A container transporting system comprising:
 a container transporting device for transporting a container; 
 a container storage device for storing the container; and 
 an interface device for interfacing with the container transporting device and the container storage device, 
 wherein the interface device comprises, 
 a plurality of saddles for receiving containers from the container transporting device, each of the plurality of saddles comprising a body and a groove formed in a surface of the body configured to face the container transporting device, the groove at least partially surrounded by sidewalls, and an impact absorbing member being formed on one or more surfaces of the groove; 
 a circulating path for providing a route for transporting the containers seated on the saddles to the container storage device; and 
 a control device configured to control speeds of the plurality of saddles on the circulating path, 
 wherein each saddle of the plurality of saddles receives in a respective groove thereof a respective container of the containers while moving together with the container transporting device, each saddle receiving the respective container on the one or more surfaces of the respective groove having the impact absorbing member, and 
 wherein the control device independently controls the speeds of the plurality of saddles relative to one another, such that a speed of one of the plurality of saddles may be different from a speed of another of the plurality of saddles.